Daily SumUp

The bells at Paris's Notre-Dame cathedral rang out 88 times on April 21 in honour of Pope Francis who died aged 88. The "88 rings for 88 years of life" were to be followed by a full ringing of the cathedral's bells before a noon mass in Francis's honour, followed by another in early evening, according to the Notre-Dame press office. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russia resumes strikes on Ukraine as Easter ceasefire ends Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The South Korean Customs Service is investigating instances where foreign goods are being misrepresented as "Made in Korea" to avoid US tariffs. Specifically, they've identified a rise in shipments, particularly those headed to the US, where products from China and other countries are being falsely labeled as Korean exports. This practice is being used to circumvent tariffs imposed by the US on certain goods and countries, with the goal of avoiding these additional import costs.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2nd Boeing jet departs China, falling victim to Trump’s tariff war.... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Britain is set to massively increase its production of explosives in order to forgo a reliance on the US and France for ammunition. Sites will be erected by BAE Systems across the UK to produce RDX explosives, used in ammunition for British Army guns and other weapons. The British defence company will also be looking to build three new manufacturing sites to add 'resilience', should one come under attack.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump Accuses Countries of "Cheating" with Non-Tariff BarriersDonald Trump accused American trade partners of using non-tariff barriers to "cheat", days after expressing a desire to strike deals. Trump is reportedly pressuring countries to reduce reliance on China in exchange for tariff relief. China is lashing out at this suggestion, warning countries against striking deals at their expense. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Vietnamese property tycoon who was jailed for life in a $17-billion money laundering case had her sentence cut to 30 years on appeal on Monday after she claimed what happened was “an accident”. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

U.S. airstrikes targeting Yemen’s capital killed 12 people and wounded 30 others, the Houthi rebels said early Monday.The deaths mark the latest in America’s intensified campaign of strikes targeting the rebels. The U.S. military’s Central Command declined to answer questions about the strike or discuss civilian casualties from its campaign.The Houthis described the strike as hitting the Farwa neighborhood market in Sanaa’s Shuub district. That area has been targeted before by the Americans.Footage aired by the Houthis’ al-Masirah satellite news channel showed damage to vehicles and buildings in the area, with screaming onlookers holding what appeared to be a dead child. Others wailed on stretchers heading into a hospitalStrikes overnight into Monday also hit other areas of the country, including Yemen’s Amran, Hodeida, Marib and Saada governorates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Watch: Celebrations usher in the dawn of Easter Sunday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What comes now after the death of Pope Francis?....How a New Pope is Selected? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pope Francis gave the traditional Easter blessing on Sunday, appearing from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica in front of delighted crowds after a brief meeting with Vice President JD Vance in what marks his highest-profile appearance yet since being discharged from hospital.The 88-year-old pontiff has not led the main Holy Week and Easter services but has made brief appearances over the Easter weekend, including spending 30 minutes at a prison in Rome on Thursday and a visit to St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday evening.Francis, who spent 38 days in hospital with double pneumonia where he came close to death, is unable to speak for long periods due to his respiratory difficulties and is undergoing physiotherapy to help regain his voice. The pope also has difficulty raising his arms.But on Easter Sunday he was able to offer the “Urbi et Orbi” blessing to the “City [of Rome] and to the World” while an aide read his address. Only the pope can offer this blessing which includes the offer of an indulgence, a remission for the effect of sins.His voice sounded weak but he appeared without the nasal canula he has been wearing to receive oxygen as he said “Brothers and Sisters, Happy Easter.”He later greeted cheering crowds in St. Peter’s Square from the popemobile, the first time he has done so since his hospitalization. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This year’s White House Easter Egg roll will feature high-dollar partnerships with YouTube, Meta and Amazon, among others, underscoring the close relationships the leaders of those tech companies have sought to cultivate with the Trump administration.The White House, through an outside production company called Harbinger, solicited corporate sponsors for the traditional springtime event on Monday ranging from $75,000 to $200,000, with the promise of logo and branding opportunities, according to a nine-page document sent to potential sponsors and first reported by CNN last month.Several major American tech companies and associations have signed up, according to an official White House press release on the event sent by the office of the first lady Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'No Kings': Americans protest nationwide against Trump, Musk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The U.S. is withdrawing hundreds of troops and closing some of its bases in northeastern Syria. The withdrawal will leave about 1,000 troops - about half the number there now - to work with Kurdish allies to prevent a resurgence of the so-called Islamic State militant group. US President Donald Trump attempted to withdraw all US forces from Syria during his first term, but faced opposition from the Pentagon, which saw it as abandoning allies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rome has become 'the capital of peace and dialogue' Italian Foreign Minister Tajani claimed. The talks were mediated by Oman.Iran and the United States concluded a second round of negotiations on Saturday over Tehran's nuclear programme, US and Iranian officials said.There is no immediate readout on how the talks went at the Omani Embassy in Rome's Camilluccia neighbourhood, but the two nations agreed to hold another round of talks next week.After the talks, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told Iranian state TV that Iran "will continue the path of the talks with seriousness” to see crippling economic sanctions on his country lifted.“Iran will continue as far as talks go on in a constructive and purposeful way," he added. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer commends Italy's 'remarkable progress' on 'irregular migration'... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just days before Easter, severe weather continues to batter Italy. On Thursday, the north-west was hit by strong winds, heavy rain and hail, .. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In England and Wales, the UK implemented significant changes to the death certification process in September 2024. These changes mandate that all deaths, except those investigated by a coroner, must undergo an independent review by a medical examiner. This review ensures the accuracy of the cause of death and provides families with an opportunity to address any concerns.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The New Jersey attorney general sued Discord on Thursday, alleging that the company misled consumers about child safety features on the gaming-centric social messaging app.The lawsuit alleges that Discord has a “strategy of employing difficult to navigate and ambiguous safety settings to lull parents and children into a false sense of safety.”One of the lawsuit’s allegations centers around Discord’s age-verification process, which the plaintiffs believe is flawed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the last few weeks, many foreign students living in the US have watched as a sequence of events has repeated itself on their social media feeds: plain-clothes agents appearing unannounced and hauling students off in unmarked cars to detention centres.Those taken into custody in a string of high-profile student detentions captured on video have not faced any criminal charges and instead appear to have been targeted for involvement in pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses.The Trump administration has said repeatedly that visas are a "privilege" and can be revoked at any time for a wide variety of reasons.But the crackdown appears to be far wider than initially thought, with more than 1,000 international students or recent graduates at colleges across the US now having had their visas revoked or legal statuses changed, according to a tracker from Inside Higher Ed, an online news site covering the sector.For many, the precise reasons are unknown, and universities have often only learned of the changes when checking a government-run database that logs the visa status of international students.The combination of targeted detentions and reports of wide-scale visa revocations have left campuses on edge, from the biggest public universities to elite Ivy League institutions, students and faculty told the BBC."I could be next," said one student visa-holder attending Georgetown University, who has written articles about Israel and the war in Gaza.He's begun carrying around a card in his pocket that lists his constitutional rights, in case he is ever stopped by law enforcement.Another student in Texas said he's afraid to leave his apartment, even to buy groceries.And at some colleges, departments are being hit as researchers abroad refuse to return to the US.Most students the BBC spoke to requested anonymity out of fear that having their names in the media could make them a target. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Should world be afraid of Earthquakes... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Twenty-one humanoid robots joined thousands of runners at the Yizhuang half-marathon in Beijing on Saturday, the first time these machines have raced alongside humans over a 21-km (13-mile) course.The robots from Chinese manufacturers such as DroidUP and Noetix Robotics came in all shapes and sizes, some shorter than 120 cm (3.9 ft), others as tall as 1.8 m (5.9 ft). One company boasted that its robot looked almost human, with feminine features and the ability to wink and smile. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At least 148 people were found dead in Democratic Republic of Congo after a motorised wooden boat caught fire and capsized, media reports citing local officials said on Friday.The boat was carrying as many as 500 passengers, including women and children, when it overturned in the Congo River located in the country’s northwest region on Tuesday, as per the reports. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At least 148 people were found dead in Democratic Republic of Congo after a motorised wooden boat caught fire and capsized, media reports citing local officials said on Friday.The boat was carrying as many as 500 passengers, including women and children, when it overturned in the Congo River located in the country’s northwest region on Tuesday, as per the reports. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Trump administration on Friday started releasing the first tranche of records on Democratic Sen. Robert F. Kennedy's 1968 assassination, with roughly 10,000 pages of previously classified records.The disclosure — ordered by President Trump within days of taking office and backed by the senator's son, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — could reignite speculation about the decades-old killing, as the younger Kennedy insists his father's convicted assassin, Sirhan Sirhan, might be innocent.A CBS News review found the documents include scans of handwritten notes by convicted assassin Sirhan, witness interviews, crime scene and autopsy photos, FBI memos related to Sirhan and his whereabouts before the shooting, correspondence to the government from the American public in reaction to the assassination, and interviews with Sirhan's family.Many of the details shared in the files were already known. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“The crew who flew to space this week on an automated flight by Blue Origin were brave and glam,” Duffy wrote, “but you cannot identify as an astronaut. They do not meet the FAA astronaut criteria.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iran and the United States started a new round of nuclear talks in Rome on Saturday to resolve their decades-long standoff over Tehran's atomic aims, under the shadow of President Donald Trump's threat to unleash military action if diplomacy fails.Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will negotiate indirectly through an Omani official who will shuttle messages between the two sides, Iranian officials said, a week after a first round of indirect talks in Muscat that both sides described as constructive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A review of tens of thousands of soil samples from Earth reveals high concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, and lead in the pedosphere Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mexico's Health Ministry confirmed the country's first human case of myiasis caused by screwworm, the government said on Friday.The case was detected in a 77-year-old woman from the municipality of Acacoyagua, in the southern state of Chiapas. She is in stable condition and receiving antibiotic treatment, authorities said.Myiasis is a parasitic infection that occurs when fly larvae infest open wounds, feeding on living tissue. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Columbia University is not stopping contact with Howard University. There is no indication in the provided search results that Columbia University is ending or reducing communication with Howard University. The search results primarily focus on other issues, such as the potential government overreach of some U.S. agencies like the Department of Justice, the cancelation of federal grants to Columbia, and a legal dispute between Howard University and an auction house.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Pentagon has eliminated nearly 200 jobs related to diversity, equity and inclusion in the last year, killing the Biden-administration’s effort aimed at providing “everyone an opportunity to reach their full potential,” according to report released by the Government Accountability Office.In 2024, there had been 188 Pentagon staff members, military and civilian, with DEI duties, the GAO found. Cuts began last year under a congressional mandate with the Defense Department eliminating 32 DEI positions and restructuring jobs for 115 others.The Pentagon’s moves, coupled with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s purge of generals and admirals who had advocated diversity efforts, represent an about face for the military on the promotion of diversity that had been rekindled after the police killing of George Floyd in 2020. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US is prepared to recognize Russian control of the Ukrainian region of Crimea as part of a broader peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv, according to people familiar with the matter. The potential concession is the latest signal that President Donald Trump is eager to cement a ceasefire deal, and comes as he and Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested on Friday that the administration is prepared to move on from its peace-brokering efforts unless progress is made quickly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scientists have reported the strongest evidence yet suggesting that K2-18b, a distant exoplanet, could be home to life. Observations from the James Webb Space Telescope have detected potential biosignatures, specifically molecules like dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) in its atmosphere. These molecules are produced by life on Earth, particularly marine phytoplankton.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luigi Mangione indicted in Brian Thompson murder, faces death penalty if convicted Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US military announced Thursday it had destroyed a key Yemeni fuel port as part of its campaign against the country’s Houthis, who said 13 workers had been killed in the strikes.The attack on the Ras Issa fuel port aimed to cut off a source of supplies and funds for the Houthis, the US military said.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Washington has hammered the Houthis with near-daily air strikes since March 15 in a bid to end their attacks on civilian shipping and military vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.The Houthis began their attacks in late 2023, claiming solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are seed oils connected to cancer? Research has not found a link between seed oils and cancer. Conte even recommends that some people undergoing treatment replace butter and lard with seed oils like canola oil. Some people have raised concerns about the extraction process for making these oils. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since 2016, as a part of the «Society 5.0» initiative, the government has been ratcheting up funding programs in an effort to increase the appeal of STEM education – that is, education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields. These campaigns were given a new boost in 2021. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Trump administration has also threatened to strip Harvard of its tax-exempt status. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This version includes the April 2025 security patches, which address two critical zero-day vulnerabilities and other important issues. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt says the world is three to five years away from “artificial general intelligence” that will be equal to, if not better, than any human thinkers or creators today.It’s a prediction that, if true, could have tremendous consequences for music and other creative industries.“Within three to five years we’ll have what is called [artificial] general intelligence, AGI, which can be defined as a system that is as smart as the smartest mathematician, physicist, artist, writer, thinker, politician… you get the idea,” Schmidt said during a panel discussion with Jeanne Meserve, host of the NatSec Tech podcast for the Special Competitive Studies Project.Schmidt said this will be possible because of a process called “recursive self-improvement,” in which AI algorithms are able to learn on their own and increase their capabilities – and he says this is already happening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scientists have found new but tentative evidence that a faraway world orbiting another star may be home to life.A Cambridge team studying the atmosphere of a planet called K2-18b has detected signs of molecules which on Earth are only produced by simple organisms.This is the second, and more promising, time chemicals associated with life have been detected in the planet's atmosphere by Nasa's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).But the team and independent astronomers stress that more data is needed to confirm these results.The lead researcher, Prof Nikku Madhusudhan, told me at his lab at Cambridge University's Institute of Astronomy that he hopes to obtain the clinching evidence soon."This is the strongest evidence yet there is possibly life out there. I can realistically say that we can confirm this signal within one to two years." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russia expects Europe and Ukraine to eventually pursue a peaceful resolution to the conflict, but for now, European nations remain focused on continuing the war, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.Speaking at a press briefing in Moscow, Peskov noted that the US continues to work with both European partners and Ukraine in this regard.“Of course, we would like to see a shift toward peace-oriented efforts from both Europe and Ukraine,” he said. “Unfortunately, what we currently observe is a continued emphasis from Europe on prolonging the conflict.”Commenting on the visit of a Ukrainian delegation to Paris, Peskov said it will likely involve discussions with representatives from the US and the so-called Coalition of the Willing on various aspects of a potential settlement.“Clearly, there will be conversations surrounding the Ukrainian settlement,” he added while responding to a question from the press. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Holidaymakers face fines of up to £5,000 if they bring back meat or dairy products as the government seeks to prevent spread of foot and mouth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TikTok joins social media trend with new ‘Footnotes’ feature for trustworthy content: All you need to know Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Europe is still a peace project. We don't have bros or oligarchs making the rules. We don't invade our neighbours, and we don't punish them," Ursula von der Leyen said in a wide-ranging interview with the Zeit newspaper. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Lamm's startup, Colossal Biosciences, has raised $200 million, valuing the company at $10.2 billion. This funding round, led by TWG Global, will be used to advance genetic engineering, expand the company's software and hardware solutions, and potentially de-extinct the woolly mammoth, Tasmanian tiger, and dodo bird Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Years of negotiations culminated early Wednesday with countries agreeing the text of a landmark accord on how to tackle future pandemics, aimed at avoiding the mistakes made during the Covid-19 crisis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK government ban on disposable and single-use vapes is aimed at stopping littering as, in most cases, the vapes cannot be recycled and often end up in landfill or pollute natural environments. The ban is also aimed at tackling rising rates of youth vaping and protecting children from harm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on April 16 that he is planning new studies to identify environmental contributors to autism that he links to its rising prevalence in the country. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.